VASSALBORO PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES
JANUARY 5, 2021
VIRTUAL MEETING
7:00 P.M.

Board Members: Ginny Bracket, Chair, Sally Butler, Doug Phillips, Marianne Stevens, John Phillips, Betsy Poulin
Staff: Paul Mitnik, CEO, LPI, BI, AO
Public: Owens McCulough,Sebago Technics; Michael Redding, North East Solar Gardens

A. Sebago Technics
Major Site Plan Review Pre-application
Solar Array
Cemetery Street
Map 8 Lot 72-C

A 4.39 Mw solar array consisting of 29.9 acres is proposed off Cemetery Street

• Owen explained that the late submittal were corrections to the Tax Map, lot and acreage. Lot is 72-C and acreage is 34.53 ac +.
• Sebago Technics has other projects in Corinth, Livermore Falls, and the Berwicks. They manage over 100 projects in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
• Currently the lot is forested and has recently undergone a tree harvest.
• Ground screws will be used to anchor solar panels
• An eight foot high fence will be erected around the circumference of the array. The fence will be a knot wire fence which allows smaller wildlife into the array area. This is more environmentally acceptable than chain link fences which block wildlife from entering the array.
• The solar array will be three feet off the ground and twelve feet high.
• The areas in-between the panels will be an open meadow which allows treatment of runoff so long as it is not mowed more than twice per year per DEP guideleines.
• There will be a 20 year lease agreement with the property owner and a decommissioning plan
• Need permits from DEP Site Location of Development since > 20 acres, and NRPA Tier 2.
• The tree buffer around the project will be at least 30 to 40 feet and at most about 100 feet.
• Target schedule is to obtain all permitting by July 1, 2021 and begin construction by August 1, 2021.
• Will submit formal application of major site plan review at the March 2, 2021 meeting.
Planning Board member Doug Phillips mentions concerns that he has with their review of projects
• Projects in which leasing is done are not getting the proper review since they do not have enough information to make a good decision. Doug believes the leasee should be required to get a site review permit also. The marijuana grow facilities are an example of this.
• They have been getting poor site plans from some applicants
• They should do more site visits to back up their decisions. For example, the buffering and remoteness of the recently approved marijuana projects resulted in disagreements among the applicant and abutting neighbors.
CEO Report
• Paul explained he has been working on subdivisions; preparing a list of all subdivisions, downloading electronic copies of subdivision plans from the Kennebec County Registry of Deeds, and plotting subdivisions on GIS. Having a list and plot is important for locating subdivisions to see if the splitting of lots is within a subdivision which requires review of the Planning Board.
• He will also work on downloading available septic plans from the state DHHS Wastewater Division for properties that don’t have a septic planned in the Town files as time allows

Adjourn 8:45 PM

Respectfully submitted Paul Mitnik, CEO, LPI, BI, AO